How to Start a Self-Care Routine You’ll Actually Stick To

We, as women, have been conditioned to “keep going” no matter what the story is. For our families, our careers, our partners, and sometimes even for people who wouldn’t do the same for us. But we rarely hear: you can’t pour from an empty cup. If you keep giving without refilling your own energy, you will at one point burn out.

A self-care routine is the quiet, purposeful way to protect your well-being so you can keep showing up, not just for others, but for yourself too. And yes, we know how it goes. You start a new habit and in a few weeks that will it’s gone because life happened. And that is fine.

What you want to do is build something you can look forward to, something that feels natural and interesting that it slides into your day without feeling like one more thing on your to-do list. Because when self-care feels like joy instead of a chore, it becomes a part of who you are. Here’s how you can create a beginner self-care plan you’ll actually stick to — even if you’re on a tight schedule, a tight budget, or both.

1. Start Small and Simple

Most self-care plans go to the bin because we try to overhaul our lives overnight. You don’t need a 2-hour morning routine with yoga, journaling, meditation, and 10 skincare steps from day one. Instead:

• Pick just one self-care habit for your morning and one for your evening.
• Keep it realistic — maybe it’s sipping chai without your phone for 10 minutes in the morning, and doing light stretches before bed.
• Build on these over time.
  

This is why a daily self-care checklist can be a game-changer. Write down three small things you want to do every day for yourself, even something as simple as drinking 2 liters of water, calling a friend, or reading a page from a book.

2. Prioritise Low-Cost or Free Activities

Self-care doesn’t have to mean expensive spa days or costly subscriptions. Some of the most effective self-care habits are completely free, and they work because they’re sustainable. Some low-cost self-care ideas:

• Take a 20-minute walk in the park.
• Listen to your favourite music while cooking.
• Try a home facial with kitchen ingredients.
• Journal your thoughts for 5 minutes before bed.
• Dance in your living room.

If you’re serious about making this a habit without destroying your savings, try Lxme’s ₹100 Investment Plan alongside your self-care. Imagine putting aside just ₹100 daily — the same amount you might spend on an extra coffee — and watching it grow while you’re also growing personally. Check it out here.

3. Add a Money-Boosting Twist to Your Self-Care

Many women feel guilty spending on themselves. But here’s a little mindset shift — saving or investing is a form of self-care. It’s you taking care of your future self.

You can use Lxme’s Savings Challenge as part of your wellness routine on a budget. For example:

• Pick one day a week to transfer ₹50–₹100 to your savings or investments.
• Pair that with something calming — like lighting a candle and having a tea break while you do it.
• Make it fun! Reward yourself every month for hitting your savings goal.

You can also explore Lxme’s financial calculators to plan how much you’d like to invest for a future trip, course, or even a small luxury for yourself. Self-care isn’t just about today; it’s about setting up a future where you don’t feel financially trapped.

4. Protect Your Time Like It’s an Appointment

If you don’t block out time for yourself and cannot make a daily self-care checklist, someone else will fill it for you. And then self-care will always be “tomorrow’s plan.”

How to do it:

• Literally schedule “me time” on your phone calendar.
• Treat it like an unmissable meeting.
• Even if it’s just 15 minutes, that’s your 15 minutes.

For women balancing a job and home responsibilities, this could mean waking up 15 minutes earlier, taking your lunch break away from your desk, or saying “no” to one unnecessary task.

5. Make It Fun, Not a Chore

If your self-care routine starts to feel like yet another responsibility, you’ll naturally lose interest. The secret is to make it something you genuinely look forward to. A beginner self-care plan should feel personal, light, and enjoyable. For example, instead of thinking, “I have to do yoga,” try telling yourself, “I get to try a new playlist for my stretches.” 

Swap “I should drink more water” with “I’ll use a cute bottle that makes me smile.” Replace “I must journal” with “I’ll write one good thing that happened today.” By making your routine playful and suited to your mood, you’re more likely to stick to it. This approach not only helps you stay consistent with your daily self-care checklist but also makes your wellness routine on a budget feel less like work and more like a reward.

6. Track and Celebrate Your Progress

Sometimes we forget how far we’ve come because we’re so focused on the next step. That’s why tracking helps,  not to shame yourself if you miss a day, but to remind you of your wins.

• Use a habit tracker app or a simple notebook.
• Tick off days you did your daily self-care checklist.
• Celebrate small milestones — maybe with a special treat or a guilt-free “lazy day.”

This is where Lxme’s FSQ for beginners comes in handy if you want to link your self-care growth with your financial growth. You can see how ready you are to start your financial journey, and then combine your wellness routine with mini-money moves.

7. Be Flexible and Forgiving

Life will happen! You’ll get sick, have long workdays, or travel. Missing a day (or even a week) isn’t failure. It’s just a pause. Restart when you can, without guilt.

Remember: self-care is not about doing things perfectly; it’s about caring for yourself consistently over time.

Self-Care Isn’t a Luxury — It’s Your Everyday Right

Ladies, self-care is not just a weekend hobby, a birthday treat, or something you “fit in” after everything else. It’s the foundation for how you show up for yourself and others every single day.

And when you make it your own — affordable, enjoyable, and flexible — you’ll actually stick to it. Pair it with smart money habits through tools like Lxme’s ₹100 Investment Plan, financial calculators, and savings challenges, and you’re not just caring for yourself today… you’re setting up your future self to go a long way, happily.

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Further read:

• How to Build a Financial Safety Net for Your Family’s Future
• 5 Key Questions to Ask Yourself Before Having a Baby
• 5 Reasons to Pay Yourself Even When You’re Starting Up